Isimangaliso Wetland Park - 2020 Conservation Outlook Assessment
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IUCN World Heritage Outlook: https://worldheritageoutlook.iucn.org/ iSimangaliso Wetland Park - 2020 Conservation Outlook Assessment iSimangaliso Wetland Park 2020 Conservation Outlook Assessment SITE INFORMATION Country: South Africa Inscribed in: 1999 Criteria: (vii) (ix) (x) The ongoing fluvial, marine and aeolian processes in the site have produced a variety of landforms, including coral reefs, long sandy beaches, coastal dunes, lake systems, swamps, and extensive reed and papyrus wetlands. The interplay of the park's environmental heterogeneity with major floods and coastal storms and a transitional geographic location between subtropical and tropical Africa has resulted in exceptional species diversity and ongoing speciation. The mosaic of landforms and habitat types creates breathtaking scenic vistas. The site contains critical habitats for a range of species from Africa's marine, wetland and savannah environments. © UNESCO SUMMARY 2020 Conservation Outlook Finalised on 01 Dec 2020 GOOD WITH SOME CONCERNS The conservation outlook for iSimangaliso Wetland Park is good with some concerns. The values of the site are of low concern overall following significant restoration projects and management interventions in accordance with the Integrated Management Plan. These include the restoration of wetlands, the removal of alien invasive plants, and the improved ecological functioning of the Lake St Lucia system. The socio-political context is a management challenge, however significant progress has been made to ensure engagement with local people and participation in decision making, as well as economic and other benefits for local communities. Although the lack of enforcement in marine fisheries in and outside the site and the conversion of unique swamp forest adjoining Sodwana Bay, is cause for concern. The findings of high concentrations of organochlorine in animal tissues could potentially lead to a deterioration of the Parks biodiversity and poses a high threat to biodiversity and the Park's visitors if not counteracted. IUCN World Heritage Outlook: https://worldheritageoutlook.iucn.org/ iSimangaliso Wetland Park - 2020 Conservation Outlook Assessment FULL ASSESSMENT Description of values Values World Heritage values ▶ Geographically diverse area with superlative vistas along Criterion:(vii) its 220 km-long coast The site is geographically diverse with superlative scenic vistas along its 220 km-long coast, including areas of exceptional natural beauty and aesthetic importance. From the clear waters of the Indian Ocean, wide undeveloped sandy beaches, forested dune cordon and mosaic of wetlands, grasslands, forests, lakes and savannah, the iSimangaliso Wetland Park contains exceptional aesthetic qualities (World Heritage Committee, 2011). ▶ The shifting salinity states within Lake St Lucia Criterion:(vii) The shifting salinity states of Lake St Lucia from low to hyper-saline are linked to wet and dry climatic cycles, and are considered an outstanding natural phenomenon (World Heritage Committee, 2011). ▶ Vivid natural spectacles including nesting turtles and Criterion:(vii) large aggregations of flamingos and other waterfowl The spectacle of large numbers of nesting turtles on the beaches and the abundance of dolphins and migration of whales and whale sharks off-shore is an outstanding natural phenomenon. The huge numbers of waterfowl and large breeding colonies of pelicans, storks, herons and terns are impressive and add life to the wild natural landscape of the area (World Heritage Committee, 2011). iSimangaliso is the most important breeding site for waterbirds in South Africa with presence of globally threatened species, range-restricted species, biome restricted species and the site holds more than 20,000 waterbirds on a regular basis (Barnes, 1998). ▶ The combination of fluvial, marine and Aeolian processes Criterion:(ix) which have resulted in a variety of landforms and are on- going to present day iSimangaliso is an outstanding example representing significant ongoing ecological and biological processes in the evolution and development of terrestrial, fresh water, coastal and marine ecosystems, and communities of plants and animals. The combination of fluvial, marine and aeolian processes initiated in the early Pleistocene has resulted in a variety of landforms and continues to the present day. The site’s transitional geographical location between sub-tropical and tropical Africa as well as its coastal setting have resulted in exceptional species diversity. Past speciation events in the Maputaland Centre of Endemism are also ongoing and contribute another element to the diversity and interplay of evolutionary processes at work. In the marine component of the site, the sediments being transported by the Agulhas current are trapped by submarine canyons on the continental shelf allowing for remarkably clear waters for the development of coral reefs. The interplay of this environmental heterogeneity is further complicated by major events such as droughts, floods and coastal storms, which are regularly experienced in the site. The site is also of sufficient size and retains most of the key elements that are essential for long-term functioning of the ecosystems. The ecological linkages between the five ecosystems found in the iSimangaliso Wetland Park have been a major attraction for research on the geomorphological and biological processes occurring here (World Heritage Committee, 2011). The five ecosystems are (i) the marine ecosystem, characterised by a warm sea, the southernmost extension of coral reefs in Africa, submarine canyons and long sandy beaches (ii) the coastal dune system, consisting of linear dunes up to 180 m in height, sub-tropical forests, grassy plains IUCN World Heritage Outlook: https://worldheritageoutlook.iucn.org/ iSimangaliso Wetland Park - 2020 Conservation Outlook Assessment and wetlands (iii) lake systems, consisting of two estuarine-linked lakes (St Lucia and Kosi) and four large freshwater lakes (Sibaya, Ngobozeleni, Bhangazi North and Bhangazi South) (iv) the uMkhuze and uMfolozi swamps, with swamp forest, extensive reed and papyrus wetlands, and (v) the inland western shores, with ancient shoreline terraces and dry savannah woodlands, thickets and sand forests that occur on the higher lying ground between the coastal plain and the Lubombo Mountains. ▶ Significant diversity of African biota Criterion:(x) The five interlinked ecosystems found in iSimangaliso provide habitat for a significant diversity of African biota, including a large number of rare, threatened and/or endemic species. iSimangaliso contains some of the most important and significant natural habitats for the in-situ conservation of biological diversity, including those containing threatened species of outstanding universal value from the point of view of science or conservation. As iSimangaliso is situated on the southernmost extremity of the Mozambique coastal plain, it hosts numerous species reaching the southernmost limit of their range which are, thus, not found elsewhere in South Africa. This adds to the value and importance of this unique area from a South African species conservation perspective. The presence of some of these species north of our borders cannot detract from the importance of conserving the South African populations, as little information is generally available on their conservation status and distribution in other parts of southern and central Africa. iSimangaliso is clearly a critical habitat for a range of species from Africa’s marine, wetland and savannah environments. The species lists for the site are the most comprehensive in the region and population sizes for most of them are viable. There are also 48 species present that are listed as threatened internationally and 147 on the CITES list. The site is clearly a critical habitat for a range of species from Africa’s marine, wetland and savannah environments. Of the over 6,500 plant and animal species known to occur in the park, populations of species of conservation importance include 11 species that are endemic to the park, and 108 species endemic to South Africa, while 467 are listed as threatened in South Africa (World Heritage Committee, 2011). Other important biodiversity values ▶ One of the most important breeding areas for waterbirds in South Africa The entire iSimangaliso Wetland Park is a designated Important Bird and Biodiversity Area (BirdLife South Africa, 2015) and also contains Key Biodiversity Areas. iSimangaliso Wetland Park supports more than 500 bird species and is one of the most important breeding areas for waterbirds in South Africa, with at least 48 species having bred here. Due to the variability of the St Lucia system, the lakes may hold very important numbers of a species in some years and almost insignificant numbers in others. The numbers and diversity of waterbirds vary considerably in response to environmental changes. Not only are waterbirds largely absent during periods of high salinity or elevated water levels, but many species are migratory or nomadic, occurring only in defined seasons. Assessment information Threats Current Threats High Threat The main threats to the site are from agricultural and forestry plantations inside and outside its boundaries, poaching and invasive alien species. Management intervention on invasive species has already shown positive results, and is flexible in order to adapt to new and emerging invasive species when these are identified. As agricultural and forestry plantations are